Refrigerator lock



May 26, `1 925.

A. RUBlN REFRIGERATOR LOCK Filed March 20 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AU EN TO.E

Pub/?7.

1 7 7' faz/VE 7 5 May 26, 1925.

A. RUBIN REFRIGERATOR LOCK Filed March 20 1924 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOE do/ o/ Pub n. BYWW Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

ADOLPH RUBIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO` SIEBER PRODUCTS MEG. 00.;

OF ST. LO-UIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI. i

REFRIGERATOR LO CK.

Application filed March 20, 1924. Serial No. 700, 600.

To all whom it may cocem:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH RUBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Refrigerator Looks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to spring-actuated locks of the kind that are used on refrigerators and ice boXes for retaining the door of the refrigerator in its closed position.

One object of my present invention is to provide a lock of the general type mentioned in which the spring that actuates the latch is combined with the casing of the lock in a novel manner that permitssaid spring to be removed easily for inspection, repair or replacement without the necessity of disconnecting the casing of the lock from the door on which it is mounted j Another object is to provide a compact, ineXpensive and highly efiicient lock for refrigerators and ice boxes which is constructed in such a manner that the movement of the handle in a direction to disengage the latch from the keeper causes the latch to be held in a position Wherein it will clear the keeper during the operation of opening and closing the door and will move automatically .into engagement with the keeper at' approximately the time the door reaches its fully closed position, thereby reducing the tendency of the keeper to work loose and wear rapidly as occurs in locks of the kind in which the latch strkes against the keeper and drags over sameeach time the door is moved into its closed position.

Another object is to provide alock of the character referred to that is equipped with a keeper of novel design that can be adjusted easily to compensate for wear on the door gasket or on the latch or portion of the keeper with which the latch co-operates, or adjnsted to adapt the keeper to doors of different thicknesses. j

And still another object is to provide a lock, which, in addition to having the desirable characteristics above pointed out, is so constructed that it can be adjusted easily to adapt it to right and left hand doors.` Other objects and desirable featuressof my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure lof the drawings is a front elevational View, illustrating my improved lock arranged in operative position on a refrigerator or ice box.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of said lock on a reduced scale.

Fgure 3 is a rear elevational view of said lock; and

Figure 4 is a detal view, illustrating the Construction of the removable member in the upper portion of the casng that serves as an abntment for the 'spring which `actuate's the latch; i

`Referring to the drawings which illus trate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the casing' of the lock which is adapted to be connected by screws or other suitable fastening devices 1 to the door W of a refrigerator or ice box, B designates the latch of the lock, C designates the keeper whichis adapted to be mounted on 'the front wall 'Y of the refrigerator in such a position that it will co-operate with the latch B to hold the door in its closed position, and D designates the handle of the lock that is used to disengage the latch B from the keeper C.

The latch B is reciprocatngly mounted in the casing A in such a way that a portion of said latch projects laterally through a slot 11 in one of side walls of the* casing A, and said latch is combined with a coiled eXpa-nsion spring E that normally exerts pressure on'said latch in a direction tending to move t towards the keeper C. In the lock herein shown the keeper C is arranged under the latch, and accordingly, 'the spring E is so disposed that it normally exerts ai downward thrust' on the latch. The handle D is pivotally mounted on the front side of the casing A and is combined with' the latch B in such a way 'that forward movement of said handle causes the latch B to be moved i upwardly against the force of the spring E. Preferably, the handle D is pivotally connected at its lower end by means of a 'horizontally-disposed pin 2'to a pair of forwardly-projec ting lugs 3 on the front wall of the casing A, and said handle is provided with a pairo' angularly-disposed arms 4 that project re'arwardly through vertical slots `5in the front wall of the casing and enter openings 6 in the latch B, as shown more clearly in F igures 2 and 3.` This method of combining the handle. D with the latch B enables the lock to be changed 4 w tion of closing the door.

Varions means can be used for guiding the latch B, but I prefer to equip the casing A With a vertically-disposed rodl? that passes through a tubular portion 8 on the latch B, said rod being removably mounted in the casing A With its lower end portion projecting into a hole in the bottom Wall, o'

the 'casing and upper end portion projecting through a member G that is removably mounted in a tubular portion 9 on the casing A located at the upp er end of said casing. The rod E is also used as a guide for thespring E that actuates the latch B, said spring being mounted on said rod between the tubular portion of the latch B and an adjustable tensioning device 10 that bears against the underside ot the removable member G in the tubular portion 9 of the 'casing As previously stated, the latch B is so constructed and arranged that after it has been disengaged from the keeper C it Will be'maintained in a position Wherein it does not drag over the keeper during the operation ot' opening or closing the door, but Will be caused to move automatically into engagement ith the keeper at approXimately the time the door reaches its fully closed position. suit is eitected by forming a shoulder 'il in one edge of the slot 11 inthe side Wall of the casing A through which the latch .B projects laterally and combining the spring E With said latch in such a way that said spring normally exerts pressure on said lateh in a direction tending to hold it pressed tightly against the edge of the siot 11 in the casing that is provided Withthe shoulder ll f Consequently, When the handle D is sivung forivardly to move the latch P upwardly out of engagement With the keeper C, said lateh will snap into engagement With the shoulder 11 on the casing A a soon as said latch moves upwardly high enough to cause thelower edge of same to clear. said shoulder. After the latch has engaged the shoulder 11` it remains in an elevated position high enough above the keeper C to clear same When the door is moving into its open position or into its closed position, but just as the'door reaches its'` ully closed position' a tripping deviee This highly desirable re 12 011 the keeper comes into contact With the latch and disengages it froni the shoulder ll .thereby permitting the latch to move downwardly into engagement With the concave seat in the keeper under the influence of the spring E. As shown in Figure 3, the spring E is provided at its lower end With an extension13 that projects into a notch 14; in the tubular portion 8 o the latch, and said spring is provided at its upper end With an extension 15 that projects into a notch in the tensioning device 10, previously reterred to. This tensioning device lO is held against rotary movement by a means that will be hereinafter described, and consequently, the spring E Will act as a torsion spring that Will move the latch B into engagement With the shoulder ll on the casino; and hold it in" engagement With' said shoulder atterthe latch has been disengaged from the keeper, and Will act 'as an eXpansion spring to move the latch downwardly into enga geme-nt With the keeper after said latch has been disengaged from the shoulder 11 bythe tripping device 12 on the keeper.

In locks or" the type to Which my invention relates it is necessary to frequently inspect, repair or replace the spring that actuates the latch, and in 'order that this may be done Without removing the casing of the lock from the door on which it is mounted, I provide the casing With: the removable member G, previously referred to, that acts virtually as an abutment 'for the spring E and which is mounted in the casing A in such a Way that it can be removed easily, thus enabling the spring E to be Withdrawn upwardly through the tubular portion 9 of the casing. As shown in Figure 4:, the member G consists of a sleeve that surrounds the upper end portion of the guide F and fits snugly in the tubular portion 9 of the casing of the lock, said sleeve being retained in position by a horiZontally-disposed i pin 16 that passes transversely through the tubular portion 9 of the casing, through the sleeve Gr and through the guide rod F. A set screw 17 that is mounted in the upper end portion of the guide rod F is adapted to be moved into engagement with the pin 16 after said pin has been positioned, so as to lock said pin and prevent it frominoving into a position to release the member. G that holds the spring E under compression. The tensioning device 10, pre,- viously referred to, consists of an annularshaped member arranged on the guide rod F beneath the member G and provided With a plurality of holes 18, any one of which is adapted to receive a looking pin 19 that projects outWardly through a horizontallydisposed slot 20 in the tubular portion 9 on the casing of the lock. When it is desired to vary the tension of the'spring E the looking pin 19 is'removed from the tensioning device 10, and said device is then rotated in a direction to wind up said spring. After said spring has been set at the 'desired tension the looking pin 19 is replaced in the' tensioning device 10. Owing to' the :fact that the spring E is constantly exerting pressure on the tensioning device 10 in 'a direction tending to rotate said de- Vice, the lockingpin 19 in said d'evice will a dentally be held in suficiently snug engagement with one end of the siot 20 in the tubular portion 9 ot the casing to eliminate the possibility of said looking pin 19 becoming accidisengaged from the tensioning ievice. From'the foregoing it will be seen that the tension of the spring E can be increased easily by manipulating the tensioning device 10 'and arranging the looking pin 19 ina different hole 18 of said tensioning device, and when it is desired to remove the spring' E from the casing ot' the lock to inspect, repair orreplace said spring, this can be accomplished easily by releasing the set screw l?, then removing the transversely-disposed looking pin 16 and thereatter Withdrawing the member G 'from the tubular portion 9 on the casing of the lock.

in order to compensate 'or wear on the door gasket or on the keeper and latch, and in order to adaptthe lock to doors of different thicknesses, I adjustably mount the keeper C on a shank H that projects :torwa rdly from a. plate 27 thatis adapted to be connected by screws or other suitable tastening devices 21. to the front wall Y of the refrigerator. Theshank H is of substantiallydiamond shape in cross section', .as shown 'in Figure 1, and the keeper C is provided with a. split portion that surrounds said shank and which is adapted to be drawn into snug engagement with same by tightening a screw 22 that passes t rane versely through the lower end of said split portion at a. point below the shankH. By loosening the screw 22 the keeper C can be adjusted'longitudinally of the shank H into such a position that the latch B of the door can always be' maintained in suiiciently snug engagement with the keeper to keep the door tight, even after the door gasket orfthe latch and keeper have become worn. When the lock is to be used with a comparatively thick door, the keeper 'C can be adjusted longitudinally of the shank H away from the supporting plate 27 to which the shank is connected and when the lock is tojfbe "used with a comparatively thin door, the keeper can be adjusted longitudinally of the shank towards the plate 27. Aspreviously stated, the lock can be reversed so as to adapt the' lock to either right hand doors or left hand doors, and this is also true of the keeper, due to the fact that the tripping device 12 onthekeeper is arranged in vertical alignlatch. B of the ment with the shank H that sustains the keeper and the keeper is removabiy mounted on-a shank H which is carried by a plate 27 that can be turned upside-down from the position shown in Figure l when it is desired to use the lock with a right hand door instead of a left handdoor, as shown in said figure. i i a In order that` the latch B maybe disengaged from the keeper C by a person standing on' the inside of the door W, a handle Operating' member I is slidingly mounted in the-casing A at a point above the pivot pin l "of the 'handle' i), said. handle Operating member` I projecting inwardly through the door `W, as shown in Figure 2, and being provided at its front end with a cross piece 23 that is adapted to strike against a lug 24: on the handl'e when said handle Operating member-is pushed forwardly, the forward movement inparted to said handle by the member I causing` the latch to be moved upwardly- 'out of engagement with the keeper. If desired, the handle Operating member' I may be provided at its rear end with a hand piece25 that is detachably connected to same by a fastening device 26 *With a handie operating member of the, construction above described it is only necessary to bore a horizontal hole in the door to receive the portion of. the member I that projects inwardly through the door. After the casingof the lock has been fastened to the door and the handle Operating member I has been arranged in operative position' in 'the door,the hand` piece 25 isvsecured to the inner end of said `handle operating member by' means of the fastening device 26. e

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p\

l; "A door lockgucomprising a casing, a latchreciproctingly mounted in said casing and provided with a: portion that projects laterally through the casing, a keeper that co-operates with said'latch to 'hold the door closed, a spring in the casing that exerts pressure on said latch, and a removable member on said casing arranged in such a manner that the removal of same permits said spring to be Withdrawn from the casing.

2. A door lock, comprising a casing, a latch reciprocatingly mounted in said casing 'and providedwith a portion that projects laterally through .the casing, a keeper that co-operates with said latch to hold the door closed, an expansion spring that eXerts pressure on said latch, said casinghaving `'an integral portion that houses said spring, and an abutment member for said spring removably mounted in the integral portion of the casing in such a Way that after it has been removed from the casing said spring can 'be withdrawn from the'casing; i 3. A door i lock, conprising a casing,

latch reciprocatingly mounted in said casing and provided with a portion that projects outwardly through the casing, a keeper that co-operates With said latch to hold the door closed, a spring in the casing that eXerts press'ure on the latch, a guide in the casing surrounded by said latch and spring, and a removable member on the casing that holds said spring under compression and which is adapted to be removed so as to enable said spring to be withdrawn from the casing.

t. A door lock, comprising a casing, a reciprocating latch in saidcasing provided With a portion that projects outwardly through the casing, a keeper that co-operates With said latch to hold the door closed, a spring in the casing that eXerts pressure on the latch, said' casing having an integral portion that serves as a housing for said Spring, a guide in the casing surrounded by said latch and spring, and an abutment member tor said spring arranged at one end of the spring housing on the casingand detachably connected to the same in such a Way as to permit said spring and guide to be 'removed from the casing.

5. A door lock, comprising a casing, a latch in said casing provided With a portion that 'projects outwardly through the casing, a keeper that co-operates With said latch to hold the door closed, a coiled, eXpansion spring in the casing tor actuating said latch, a guide tor said spring. an annular abutment member tor said spring surrounding said guide and arranged casing, said 'abutment member being separate and distinct TETORI? said guide, and a removable means for maintaining said abut- 'ment member and guide in operative position in the casin v 6. A door lock, comprising `a casing, a 'reciprocating latch in said casing provided With a portion that projects 'laterally through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper th'at is adapted'to co-operate With said latch to hold the door closed, means for disengaging the latch from the keeper, a means on the casing tor holding the latch in an inoperative position, a tripping device 'for disengagingthe latch from said means When *the door is moved into its closed position, and. a spring that eXerts pressure on said latch in a direction engagement With said holding means after the latch has been disengaged 'fronit the keeper 'and in a direction t'ending to move the-latch intoengagement WltllSalCl keeper 'after 'the latch has been disengaged from said holding means. i

7. A door lock, `comprising a casing, a latch ins-aid casing provided With a portion that projects laterally through the side Wall ot the casing, a keeper that is adapted to co-operate With said latch to hold the door closed, means for 'disengaging the latch from to move it in an opening in the tending to move it into the keeper, a means on the casing for hold ing the latch in an inoperative position, a tripping device for disengaging the latch 'froni said means When'the door is moved into its closed position, a spring that eXerts pressure on said latch in adirection tending to move it into engagement With said holding means after the latch has been disengaged from the keeper and ina direction tending to move the latch into engagement With said keeper after thelatch has been disengaged from said holding means, and a removabie member on the casing that is adapted to be removed to permit said spring tobe withdrawn from the casing.

8. A door lock, comprising a casing, a latch in said casing provided With a portion that projects laterally through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper that is adapted to co-operate With said latch to hold the door closed, means tor disengaging 'the latch from the keeper, aineans on the casing for holding the latch in an operative position, a tripping device tor disengaging the latch :from said means When the door is moved into its closed position, a spring that exerts pressure on said latch in a direction tending into engagement With said holding means after the latch has been disengaged from the keeper tending to move the latch into engagement With said keeper after the latch has been disengaged from said holding means, and means for enabling the tension of said spring to be varied.

9. A door lock, 'comprising a casing, a reciproeating latch in said casing provided With a portion that projects laterally through the'side Wall of the casing, a keeper that eo-operates With said latch to hold the door closed, a handle on the casing for disengaging the latch from said keeper, a means on the casing for holding the latch in an inoperative position after it has -be'en disenga'ged from the keeper, a tripping device for disengaging the latch from said holding means When the door is moving into its closed position, and a coiled expansion spring combined With the latch in such a Way that the torsional etl'ect of said spring is usedto move the latch into engagement With said holding means after the latch has been disengaged from said keeper and the expansive 'force ot' said spring is used to move the latch into engagement with the keeper after the tripping devic'e has disengaged the, latch from said holding means.

10. A door lock, comprising a casing, a reciprocating latch in said casing provided With a portion that projects laterally through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper that co-operates with said latch to hold the door closed, a handle on the casing 'tor disengaging the latch from said keeper, a means on the casing for holding the latch and in 'a direction j in an inoperatve position after it has been disengaged from the keeper, a tripping device for disengagng the latch from said holding means When the door is moving into its closed position, a coiled expansion spring combined With the latch in such a Way that the torsional efiect of said spring is used to move the latch into engagement With seid holding means efter the latch has been disengaged-from said keeper and the expensive force of said spring is used to move the latch into engagementwvith the keeper after the tripping device hes disengaged the latch` from said holding means, means for enabling the tension of seid spring to be Vared, and means for enabling seid spring to be withdrawn from the casing Without dis conneeting the casing from the part which carries same. i

ll. A 'door lock, comprising a cesng, a guide in said casing, `alatch reciprocatingly mounted on said guide and provided With a portion that projects laterally through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper that c0- operates With said latch to hold the door closed, a handle on the casing for disengeging the latch from said keeper, e means on the casing for holding the latch in an inoperative position after it has been disengaged from the keeper, adevice on the keeper for tripping said latch, a coiled eX- pansion spring on said guide that exerts pressure on the latch in a direction tending to cause it to snap into engageinent With seid holding means after the latch has been disengeged from the keeper and in adirection tending to move the latch into engagement with the keeper efter the latch has been tripped, and e removable member detachebly connected to the casing that serves as {LD abutment for said spring and which also operates to hold said guide in operative position.

12. A. door letch, comprising e casing, a vertically-dsposed guide rod in said casing, u, latch reciprocetingly mounted on said guide rod and provided'wth a portion that projects laterally through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper that co-operates With said latch to hold the door closed, a pivotally mounted handle on the casing for disengaging the latch from said keeper, a, coiled expansion spring on seid guide that exerts pressure on seid latch, and a removable abutment member for said spring arranged at the upper end. of said guide and detachably connected to the casin n t 13. A door latch, comprising a casing, a vertically-disposed guide rod in said casing, a latch reciprocatingly mounted on seid guide rod and provided With e portion that projects laterally through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper that co-operetes With said latch to hold the door closed, a pivotally mounted handle on the casing for disengaging the letch from said keeper, :L coiled ,expanson spring on said guide that eX- erts pressure on seid latch, e removable abutment member for seid spring erranged at the upper end of said guide and detachably connected to the casing, and a tension` ing device on seid guide erranged between seid. ebutment member and seid spring and adapted to be turned to vary the tension of said spring.

, 14. A door latch, comprising e casing, a vertically-disposed guide rod in said casing, a letch reciprocetingly mounted on said guide rod and provided With a portion that projects laterlly through the side Wall of the casing, a keeper that co-operates With seid latch tohold the door closed; a pivotelly mounted hendle on 'the casing for disengaging the` letch from said keeper, e coiled expansion spring on said guide that exerts pressure on seid latch, a removable zibutment member torstid spring arranged at the upper end ot said guide and detachably connected to the casing, a tensioning" device on said guide errenged between said abutment member and said spring and adapted to be turned to vary the tension ot said spring, a shoulder on the casing arranged so that the latch will snap into engegein'ent With same efter the latch has been disengaged fromthe keeper, and e tripping device on the keeper that ceuses the' latch to be disengaged from said shoulder When the door is moving into its closed position.

15. A door lock, comprising e casing provided in both ot its side Walls With verticelly-disposed Slots, e reversible latch in the casing that is adepted to be errenged in a position Wherein a portion of same projects laterally through the slot in one oftheside Walls of the cesing, a handle on the casing for disengaging the latch from the' keeper constructed so that it Will co-operate With the latch iireither position of same, e spring in the casing that exerts pressure on the latch, a shoulder on the casing arranged so that the latch Will snap into engagement With same after it has been disengeged from the keeper, and a tripping device on the keeper that disengages the latch from seid shoulder When the door is moving into its closed position. A

16. A door lock, comprising a casing provided in both of its side Walls With verticelly-disposed slots, a reversible latch in the casing that is adepted to be arrenged in e position Wherein e portion of same projects laterallv through the slot in one of the side Walls of the casing, a handle on the casing for disengaging the latch from the keeper constructed so that it Will co-oprate With the latch in either position of same, a spring in the casing that eXerts pressure on the latch, a shoulder on the casing arranged so thet the letch will snap into engagemenr that disengages the When the door s IDOVlIlglDtO its closed po-' sition, and a reversible plate provided With a shank on which the keeper s adjustably nounted.

17. A door lock, comprising a casing adepted tobe connected to a door, a verticelly-disposed guide rod in said casing, a

reversible latch recprocatingly nounted on said guide rod and provided with a portion p that projects leterally through the side Wall of the casing, e keeper that co-opera-tes With said latch to hold the doorclosed, a support for said keeper 'on which the keeper is adjustably mounted in such a Way that it can be arranged in various positions, :L pivotally inounted handle on the 'ront side of said cesing for disengaging the latch from the keeper, a shoulder on the casing for maintaining the latch in an inoperative position, a coiled expansion spring on said guide that exerts pressure on said lateh in &direction tending to force'the latoh towards the keeper and towards said shoulder, and a handle Operating member in the door arranged so that the handle can be actuated from the inside of the door.

18. A door lock, comprising a casing adapted to be connected to a door, a vertically-dsposed guide rod. m said casing, e

reversible latchreeiprocatingly mounted on* said guide rod and provided with a portion that projects laterally through the side wall of the casing, a keeper that co-operates with said latch to hold the door closed, a support for said keeper on which the keeper is a-djustebly'mounted in such a Way that it can be' arranged in various positions, a pivotally nounted handle on the front side of said oasing fordisengaging the latch from the keeper, a shoulder 011 the casing for maintaining the latch in an iuoperative position, a coled expansion spring on said guide that eXerts pressure on said latch in a direction tending to force the latch towards the keeper and towards said shoulder, a` handle operatingmember in the door arrangechso that the handle can be actuated from' the inside of the door, zt renovable member at the upper end' of the casing that surrounds the upper end portion of said guide, a pin that passes transversely through seid guide, ren'ieva'ble member and casing, and an adjustable device on said guide 'or varying the tension o' said spring.

i ADOLPH RUBIN. 

